Facing Into Wholeness: a New Year’s Reflection

The goal of inner work is wholeness, not perfection.

In pursuing perfection we are destined to come up short. Yes, it’s noble to aim for excellence. Yet in striving for perfection we seek only part of the whole, for things to be one way only.

Wholeness, on the other hand, includes it all. The ways we are both strong and vulnerable. Solitary and interconnected. Despairing and hopeful.Wholeness includes our endeavors towards greatness, as well as our failures.

I’ve been guided back to the truth again and again. Wise women’s counsel. Nature’s silence. Children’s laughter. In moments when I cannot, these remind me of wholeness’ wider, more compassionate view.

Every obstacle, pain or imperfection provides an opportunity to invite in more love, more gratitude, more wholeness.

Contemplate the wholeness of a tree. It goes through various stages of growth and maturation. In each manifestation it is whole. It becomes more full, more itself with every passing year.It is more of what it is destined to become.Redwood. Ceiba. Oak.

Wholeness includes the process of coming into full bloom. A tree was once a small seed. Buried under the soil. Hidden. Both darkness and light needed for growth.

Our inherent wholeness calls us to take in more of life. Rather than cut off. Deaden. Obscure.We are more present, more full.Holding both sorrow and joy. Grief and elation. Death and birth.May this awareness help us unfold more of our humanity. More of our creativity. More of our goodness.

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2 thoughts on “Facing Into Wholeness: a New Year’s Reflection”

Elo This is such a gentle and great reminder to love ourselves totally… flaws and all. Thank you for sharing this because being a “type A” personality I too can be very hard on myself. Thanks for this beautiful reminder. 💕💕